Below are photos of concept kayak I created as a study between the best traits of a standup paddle board, a surf board, and a sit-on-top kayak utilizing the Hobie Mirage drive for propulsion.

She is intended for going faster, farther. Total length is 18’6” with a plumb bow and a displacement style hull that tapers back to sup style boxed rails for hooking up with ocean swell. Beam is 22” wide, and she weighs in just over 35 pounds fully rigged. The boat has a carbon skin and an EPS core with a 1/4” carbon stringer for rigidity.

Lashing points are fashioned from surf leash and resin plugs for incredible strength and ease of use. The rudder utilizes a control mechanism from a Hobie i12.

The artwork, illustrated by myself, is a rather determined octopus who once he latches onto something, refuses to let go. The entire project took a little under six months of burning night and weekend minutes to complete.

Enjoy,

Nicholas Cryder

(hi-res photos are on my site, linked below)

_________________"Never mistake a clear view for a short journey." - Cowboy Proverb

I've long been a fan of Sea Kayaker magazine - mostly for the stories of epic voyages and adventures their writers undertake and then write about. I've always thought that if you weren't a purist and just wanted the adventure portion, a Mirage Drive kayak in the proper form would make a great expedition craft. Maybe you've just created that craft.

I've long been a fan of Sea Kayaker magazine - mostly for the stories of epic voyages and adventures their writers undertake and then write about. I've always thought that if you weren't a purist and just wanted the adventure portion, a Mirage Drive kayak in the proper form would make a great expedition craft. Maybe you've just created that craft.

Awesome. Totally the spirit behind this boat, and the site for that matter. The mirage drive has so much potential as an expedition tool, and I just wanted to build a hull / boat that took it to it's logical extreme without any of the constraints that are forced into boats that see mass production.

It's also worth noting that of all of the deaths / near deaths that I have read of (hundreds in the Sea Kayaker archives), failure to remount the boat is the #1 killer... so it makes a lot of sense to make boats that engineer that right out of the equation (as Hobie has done).

_________________"Never mistake a clear view for a short journey." - Cowboy Proverb

Awesome!!I have a wood sea kayak I built but working with Caron fiber looks tough. The finished product looks great and the lines look fast.

Please give us a report on the performance, I think the mirage drive will be very good with a fast hull.

Wood has a ton of potential for a craftsman, especially in the same vein as some of the high end kits out there. The tricky part would be shaping the hull for all out speed with enough stability, but that can be done.

Doing some more tweaks / experiments with hull, but i'll post up when I get it out and get some data.

_________________"Never mistake a clear view for a short journey." - Cowboy Proverb

Wow, that is amazing! It looks like it is from a futuristic FPS kayak game. That is some impressive work. You will have to post a video of you flying through the water in that thing. I am dying to see it in action. Great job.

_________________Fish tremble when they hear my name

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for. --John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928

Beautiful lines, fantastic art work great photography! My only concern would be roll stability with the seat on deck and the legs up. If so, perhaps a small outrigger will take care of it. The speed potential looks excellent!